Squirrel-exterminator.



J. M. BOURN.

SQUIRREL EXTERMINATOR.

APPLICATION IILED PEB.23, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

QOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON. n.-.

UNITED STATES PriTENT QFFICE.

JAMES M. BOURN, OF MOSCOW, IDAHO.

SQUIRREL-EXTERMINATOR.

7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs M. BOURN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Moscow, in the county of Latah and State of Idaho, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Squirrel-Exterminators,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to those devices used to destroy squirrels andother burrowing animals in their burrows, by inject-ing dense or othersuffocating smoke into such holes, the devices combining smoke-producingand injecting means.

The invention consists in a new form of smoke-producer and its barrel,and in an improvement in the injector nozzle, all as I will proceed nowmore particularly to set forth and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invent-ion, in theseveral figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1is a front elevation and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of thecomplete apparatus. Fig. 3 shows in elevation the smoke-producingcartridge detached. Fig.

4: shows in top plan view and cross-section,

the screen bottom of the cart-ridge shell. Fig. 5 is a collection ofdetail views showing the hinge-members connecting the movable part ofthe barrel with its. body.

The apparatus comprises a barrel 1, which may be made of sheet-metal,open at both ends, and having a fan-case or blower-case 2 mounted uponits upper end. This fancase or blower-case contains a rotary fan 3,mountedupon a shaft 4 borne in the case; and on this shaft is a pinion 5connected by gears 6 and 7, mounted upon the case, with a driving gear 8on a stud-shaft 9 on the case, and this gear 8 has a crank or handle 10for turning it and thence through the train of gears rotating the fan. Ahandle or grip 11 is also applied to the case to aid the user inhandling and operating the apparatus. For convenience, the blowermechanism hereinabove described or any equivalent thereof, ishereinafter referred to as the blower; and while a blower is essentialto the successful .and convenient operation of the device of thisinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited toany particular kind or construction of blower.

The lower part of the barrel is divided Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Application filed February 23, 1910. Serial No. 545,426.

transversely and the end 12 has its outer end arranged obliquely, or ona bevel, and is provided with a flange 13. This end is hinged to thebody of the barrel in any suitable way, as by means of collars 14: and15 brazed, riveted or otherwise fixed respectively to the body of thebarrel and its end. These collars have hinge-members 16 and 17 connected by a pintle 18, and they also have the interlocking ears 19 and20 which are connected by a cotter-pin 21 or other removable device, byremoving which the lower end of the barrel may be swung back upon thenintle 18 so as to admit of access to the interior of the barrel. Thecollar 15 has an inwardly projecting flange 22, which affords a rest forthe cartridge shell 23. This cartridge shell is of cylindricalopen-ended form, and has a foraminous bottom which, as seen in Figs. 2and 4, may consist of a ring 24 fitted tight in the shell and containinga piece of wire netting 25. The cartridge comprises the said shell andany suitable dense smoke-producing material, such as fuel or chemicals,capable of suffoeating and killing burrowing animals. The cartridge isinserted in the barrel through its lower open end, and then when thelower end is closed and locked, the bottom of the cartridge rests uponand is supported by the flange 22 of the collar 15. Above the cartridgeis an opening 26, covered by a flap 27, which affords means to introducea match or other light to ignite the smoke-producing material of thecartridge.

The nozzle 28 has a flange 29 engaged by the flange 13 on the end of thebarrel, in such way as to swivel the nozzle to the barrel and admit ofsaid nozzle being turned in any direction most convenient to the user inoperating the apparatus. Any suitable means may be'used for swivelingthe nozzle to the barrels end.

In use, the loaded cart-ridge is inserted in the barrel and the barrelsend closed. The

nozzle is then turned to the desired angle.

The cartridge is ignited and then the nozzle inserted in the mouth ofthe burrow and the blower started. The draft keeps the combustiblematerial of the cartridge ignited and forces the smoke and gasestherefrom into the burrow.

the apparatus may be easily and quihkly charged, and the charge renewed.Another advantage is that by dividing and hinging the lower end of thebarrel, ready access is had to the interior of the apparatus for any andall purposes, and no part need be detached excepting the cartridge.Still another advantage is that the swiveling of the nozzle permits theoperator to arrange the apparatus in the most advantageous position foruse with relation to the mouth of the burrow.

While the invention is entitled squirrel exterminator, and so claimed,it is to be understood that I do not thereby limit the invention to usein killing any particular species of burrowing animals.

What I claim is:

In a squirrel exterminator, the combination of a barrel dividedtransversely at its lower end, hinge members connected to and joiningthe parts of said barrel and provided with means for locking said partsin closed position, the hinge member on the lower part of said barrelbeing provided with an inwardly projecting flange, a blower mounted uponand communicating with the upper part of said barrel, a fuel cartridgeadapted to be inserted in the lower end of the upper part of the barrelwhen said lower part is opened and supported in the barrel by saidinwardly-projecting flange when said lower part is closed, and a nozzleswiveled to the hinged lower part of the barrel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day ofFebruary A. D. 1910.

JAMES M. BOURN.

Witnesses:

l/VM. HUNTER, J. A. MOARTHUR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

